Civilians among 13 killed in ISAF raid

ASADABAD (PAN): Ten civilians -- mostly women and children -- were killed in an International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) airstrike in eastern Kunar province, a senior official said on Wednesday.

Five children, four women, a man and three insurgent commanders were killed in the overnight raid on a militant hideout in Shegal district, Kunar Governor Syed Fazlullah Wahidi told Pajhwok Afghan News.

He said the airstrike was conducted during a joint operation by Afghan and NATO-led forces in Chogan village. The Taliban commanders were involved in attacks against national and foreign troops, the governor added.

Provincial council chief, Haji Mia Hassan Adil, denounced the strike and said they were dead-set against operations that resulted in civilian deaths. Such military actions were further widening the gap between the people and the government, he added.

A district official, speaking on condition of anonymity, identified the rebel leaders as Shahpur, Rocketi and Yasin. He said Rocketi, a Pakistani militant, had long been active in the district.

Meanwhile, ISAF said Afghan and coalition forces had killed two insurgents during an operation in Ghaziabad district of Kunar on Tuesday.

The joint security force saw the two individuals engaged in insurgent activity before conducting a precision strike, an ISAF statement said. “A post-operation assessment determined no civilians were harmed.”

A Taliban spokesman also confirmed the loss of three fighters in the operation. Zabihullah Mujahid claimed nine civilians and five members of the combined force were killed by the militants.